Whether a steam iron or rather a steam ironing station is suitable for you depends above all on your own ironing habits. The question of which textiles are to be ironed also plays a central role. We have compiled the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods for you here.
Steam iron or steam ironing station – the iron
With a steam iron, the steam is generated directly on the hot ironing plate without pressure. The steam chamber is located between the heating elements. If you open the corresponding valve by pressing a button, the steam can escape onto the garment.
– Steam irons have the advantage that they are smaller and easier to handle than the larger steam ironing stations. Even if the appliance is not supposed to cost much, you can get away with a steam iron far more cheaply.
– However, the way the iron works is that the steam is created without pressure. This means that it steams textiles less than the ironing station and usually only for a short time.
– With many models, the steam function can only be activated from level two or three – i.e. from about 130 °C. The steam function is not suitable for delicate textiles. This means that the steam function is often not usable at all for delicate textiles.
– Buying a steam iron is therefore worthwhile especially if you do little ironing and can tolerate minor creases in your ironed clothes.
The steam ironing station
In contrast to steam irons, the steam of an ironing station is produced in its own generator. At approx. 140 °C, the water is heated and becomes steam. At the same time, pressure builds up. If you now press the corresponding button, the steam enters the iron via a hose, cools down to about 100 °C and releases the pressure again.
– Steam ironing stations are larger, heavier and more expensive to buy than steam irons. Due to the separate steam generator, they also usually consume more electricity.
On the other hand, they release a lot of steam for a long time – usually steam quantities of 120 grams per minute can be produced. Steam irons, on the other hand, only produce about 40 grams of steam per minute.
– In addition, with many models you can steam the textile pieces already from level 1. This allows you to steam iron delicate synthetic fabrics, for example, or to smooth out stubborn creases.
– If you iron frequently and the garments really need to be smoothed out well, investing in a steam ironing station can be well worth it. Thanks to the high pressure, it is usually enough to iron one side with the steam ironing station – so you save yourself some time.
